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AFC confirms Malaysia did not bid to host 2031 Asian Cup | Scoop
Malaysia is not in the running to host the 2031 AFC Asian Cup, the Asian Football Confederation has confirmed, putting to rest social media speculation that the country had submitted a formal bid alongside other ASEAN nations. — AFC pic, April 14, 2025
Sports

AFC confirms Malaysia did not bid to host 2031 Asian Cup

Governing body says only Indonesia has submitted an official bid from ASEAN, dismissing online speculation about Malaysia’s involvement

Main Author Image
Sandru Narayanan
Updated
9:55 PM MYT

 

KUALA LUMPUR – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has shut down rumours that Malaysia is bidding to host the 2031 Asian Cup, saying no official submission was made by the country’s governing body.

The clarification follows swirling speculation online claiming that Malaysia, along with several Asean nations, had submitted bids to host the continent’s premier international football tournament.

While Malaysia does have past experience—having co-hosted the 2007 edition with Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam—the AFC says there is currently no bid on the table from the country.

“The speculation is false,” AFC secretary-general Datuk Seri Windsor Paul John told Scoop.

“Malaysia, through its governing body, the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), did not submit any official bid to host the 2031 edition of the tournament. If the rumours were true, it would have been publicly known by now – there’s no reason for us to keep it secret.”

So far, Indonesia is the only Asean nation to have submitted a formal bid. 

According to Windsor, the Indonesian proposal includes venues such as Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta International Stadium, Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium, and North Sumatra Stadium, among others.

“Other Asean countries have not made official bids. Of course, things may change if any nation decides to withdraw. We’ll definitely keep football fans updated in the coming months,” he added.

Beyond Indonesia, confirmed bidders for the 2031 tournament include Australia, India, Kuwait, South Korea, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and the United Arab Emirates.

Windsor said the host nation will be announced in the coming months, once the evaluation process is complete. He stressed that countries must meet stringent criteria, including stadium quality, transport infrastructure and accommodation availability.

“We are still in the evaluation phase, and a decision will be made soon. At this stage, we cannot guarantee anything.

“However, our priority will be given to countries with strong stadium infrastructure, adequate accommodation and facilities, efficient transportation and accessibility, and several other factors.

“The previous edition, held in Qatar, set a new benchmark. The tournament felt like the Asian version of the World Cup, and we must ensure that we maintain the standards and reputation that have been established,” he said.

The Asian Cup, first held in 1956, takes place every four years. The next edition will be hosted by Saudi Arabia in 2027.

Qatar, who stepped in after China’s withdrawal, hosted the most recent tournament in early 2024—six months later than scheduled. — April 14, 2025

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